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HomeMy WebLinkAbout050422 PC MINUTESCITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 4, 2022 1.CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission Meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Scanlan at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Paul Scanlan, David Schindler, Paul Mahowald, Becky Sandahl Member(s) Absent: Jodi Kurtz, Keith Diekmann City staff members attending: Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist, Planner Kathy Bodmer, Planner Tom Lovelace, Civil Engineer Jodie Scheidt, City Attorney Sharon Hills, and Department Assistant Breanna Vincent. Prior to the agenda items, Community Development Director Nordquist introduced Jeff Prewitt to the Planning Commission. Mr. Prewitt was selected to fill the vacancy on the Planning Commission at the April 28th City Council meeting. 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Scanlan asked if there were any changes to the agenda. Community Development Director Nordquist said there were two changes including some additional images for the Apple Valley Commerce 2nd Addition (Scannell) item and a supplement to the staff report on Apple Ford Lincoln Redevelopment with an addition of one condition for each action requested. MOTION: Commissioner Schindler moved, seconded by Commissioner Sandahl, approving the agenda. Roll call vote: Ayes - 4 – Nays - 0. 3. CONSENT ITEMS MOTION: Commissioner Sandahl moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahowald, approving the minutes of the meeting of April 20, 2022. Roll call vote: Ayes – 3 – Nays – 0 – AB – 1. 4.PUBLIC HEARING A.Apple Valley Commerce 2nd Addition (Scannell) Vice Chair Scanlan opened the public hearing. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes May 4, 2022 Page 2 of 5 Planner Bodmer presented the staff report. Commissioner Schindler noted that most of the plantings are on the north and east side and not much on the west side. Planner Bodmer stated that the applicant prioritized screening the dock area but that they will look into adding more to the west side. Commissioner Sandahl asked about the applicant’s desire to not include trees in the parking lot in order to deter birds. Planner Bodmer stated that staff has asked for clarification from the applicant as this has never been a concern before with other sites with food. Vice Chair Scanlan asked if the building is being shifted to the west due to the flow of truck traffic. Planner Bodmer stated this is correct as the code states that a loading dock must be a setback minimum of 100 feet when facing a public street. Great River Energy also has overhead power lines on the east side. Petitioner Michael Conzemius (Scannell Properties) provided a brief presentation. Mr. Conzemius stated in response to Commissioner Sandahl’s question regarding the birds, that the thought is if all the landscaping is located on the outside of the property, birds will tend to stay in those areas as opposed to where product will be coming in and out. Vice Chair Scanlan stated that the entrance side to the building could benefit from adding more windows. Commissioner Schindler asked if there was a retail component to this operation. Mr. Conzemius stated that there will not be. Steve Hegedus (Abdallah Candies) expressed concern over the amount of fencing involved on the site and to keep in mind what materials will be used in regards to future maintenance and deterioration. With no further comments, Vice Chair Scanlan closed the public hearing. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes May 4, 2022 Page 3 of 5 5. LAND USE A. Apple Ford Lincoln Redevelopment Planner Bodmer presented the staff report. Commissioner Mahowald asked if there were any renderings of the display pad located on the west side. Planner Bodmer stated that the Petitioner can comment on this. Commissioner Mahowald also expressed concern over having the entrance on the south and having to go around to the northwest corner to get in. Planner Bodmer stated that an option was to create an access from another point but by not doing this, more parking was able to be saved. Vice Chair Scanlan asked if the Fire Department has looked at the plans as it seems very tight. Planner Bodmer stated that they had looked at the plans and one condition is that Ford Lincoln will need to manage vehicle storage to ensure there is circulation around the building. Petitioner, Chris Gulbrandson (Apple Autos), stated that their thought was to have customers drive around the building to the front of the store since most will be coming to the show floor and the back of the building is mostly service vehicles. He stated that the unified campus is very beneficial for their staff as crossing Gardenia can be hazardous. Mr. Gulbrandson also pointed out that the steps at the entrance were removed to minimize any risk for injuries related to ice. MOTION: Commissioner Mahowald moved, seconded by Commissioner Schindler, to recommend approval of a Conditional Use Permit for the Outdoor Sales and Storage of motor vehicles in connection with an automobile dealership, subject to condition 1 through 6 in the staff report. Roll call vote: Ayes – 4 – Nays – 0. MOTION: Commissioner Mahowald moved, seconded by Commissioner Schindler, to recommend approval of the Site Plan/Building Permit Authorization for the Apple Auto Lincoln Dealership at 7125 – 151st St. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes May 4, 2022 Page 4 of 5 W. subject to conditions 1 through 7 stated in the staff report. Roll call vote: Ayes – 4 – Nays – 0. 6. OTHER BUSINESS A. Floor and Décor Sketch Plan Planner Lovelace presented the staff report. Commissioner Mahowald agreed that the side of the building facing Cedar Ave could use some more design elements as it is currently very bleak. Commissioner Mahowald asked how parking will be compared to how it currently is on the site. Planner Lovelace stated that it is a different type of use and the numbers will be lower than a general retail operation. A traffic analysis will help to determine how much activity is in the area. Commissioner Mahowald stated his concern for future use of the site being that this will be a larger building with less parking and how that may impact future users of the site. Planner Lovelace said that with this proposal, the ordinance would be amended to building sales and materials which would keep future users of the site at similar numbers to what is being proposed. Commissioner Schindler asked if this would be a one tenant use. Planner Lovelace stated that is correct. The applicant has worked with another theater operation in Maple Grove to open a Floor & Décor store in that location. Commissioner Sandahl asked about the parking since Red Robin does not have their own parking lot and if the cross easement cross parking would address this. Planner Lovelace stated that it would and staff would also need to look into the history of the parking relationship between the theater and Red Robin. Commissioner Sandahl asked why the front of the building is not facing Cedar Ave. Planner Lovelace stated that since there is no ability to access the site from Cedar Ave, the entrance is from Gaslight Drive so the building faces that street. Commissioner Sandahl expressed her concern for having the building torn down and rebuilt as opposed to repurposing the existing building.